Thin film apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of fluent or flowable materials in a treatment compartment. A treatment member serves to spread or distribute the material to be treated in the form of a thin film upon the treatment wall of the treatment compartment. According to an important aspect of the invention, the treatment member comprises at least one spreader element for the material to be treated. Drive means serve to impart relative movement between the treatment member and the treatment wall.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Arnold Mutzenberg Buchs, Saint Gall; Fritz Widrner, Fallanden, Zurich, both of, Switzerland [21 Appl. No. 809,333 [22] Filed Mar. 21, 1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [73] Assignee Luwa AG Zurich, Switzerland [32] Priority Mar. 25, 1968 [33] Switzerland [31] 4347/68 [54] THIN FILM APPARATUS 22 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 165/94, 159/6 W, 165/109, 165/120 [51] Int. Cl. Bold 1/22 [50] Field 0! Search 165/94,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,993 3/1963 Sweet... 165/94 3,266,555 8/1966 Thier 159/6 3,292,683 12/1966 Buchi et a1... 159/6 3,349,828 10/1967 Monty 159/6 FOREIGN PATENTS 934,175 10/1955 Gennany 165/120 Primary Examiner-Albert W. Davis, Jr. Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman PATENTED JUL 6 1911 SHEET 1 OF 4 Fig 1 3 INVENTOR PATENTEDJUL SIB?! $590,916

SHEET H 0F 4 INVENTOR BYW/ ATTOR NE Y5 TIIIN FILM APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of fluent or flowable materials which is of the type equipped with a treatment compartment or chamber for the materials and possessing an inlet connection or stud and an outlet connection or stud arranged beneath the inlet connection. Furthermore, the treatment compartment possesses wall surfaces which at least partially are constructed as treatment wall means for the delivery of heat and/or the removal of heat, and additionally, there is provided a treatment member which extends up to the region of the treatment wall means and is operably coupled with drive means. This treatment member serves to spread or distribute the material to be treated into a thin film which contacts the treatment wall means.

There is already known to the art a thin film apparatus in which the treatment member carries out vibrations in a direction with respect to its lengthwise axis, whereby between the spreader edges of the treatment member interference waves should appear in the thin layer or film which increase the surface and the turbulence of the thin film and therefore improve the transfer of heat. Since by virtue of the mentioned axial vibrations of the treatment memberapart from the influence of gravitythere does not occur any appreciable feed of the thin film, the treatment member, which possesses the configuration of a helical-shaped spreader edge, is rotated in order to quickly and positively move the thin film, thereby achieving the conditions required for the proper functioning of this thin film apparatus. However, it should be appreciated that the constructional expenditure for the fabrication of the treatment member, for the mounting and exact maintenance of the play in such an apparatus, as well as the power or load which is to be installed, are all considerable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved thin film apparatus of the mentioned type which effectively overcomes the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art constructions.

Another more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved thin film apparatus which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, extremely reliable in operation, not readily subject to breakdown, and capable of handling large quantities of material.

Yet a further very important object of the present invention relates to the provision of a thin film apparatus wherein it is possible to still attain extremely reliable functionality in the performance of the apparatus without having to take into account special accuracy requirements in the construction of the unit, and wherein the apparatus nonetheless is extremely effcient, especially capable of handling larger quantities of material to be treated.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, it should be noted that the treatment member utilized with the thin film apparatus incorporates at least one spreader element for the material to be treated and between the treatment wall of the treatment chamber and this treatment member there is undertaken a relative movement with respect to one another. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spreader element of the treatment member is subjected to the action of drive means so that it will move to-and-fro along the treatment wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in elevational view of a first embodiment of inventive thin film apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation, on an enlarged scale of a portion of the thin film apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, illustrating the flow conditions of the thin film at the treatment wall during the forward motion of a spreader element;

FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary view, once again on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the thin film apparatus of FIG. 1, but here showing the flow conditions prevailing during the upward movement of a spreader element;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment ofthe treatment or processing member;

FIG. 4a is a top plan view of the treatment member depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of treatment or processing member;

FIG. 5a is a top plan view of the treatment member depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of treatment or processing member;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation in elevational view of a second embodiment of inventive thin film apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the thin film apparatus depicted in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of inventive thin film apparatus; and,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the thin film apparatus depicted in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a first embodiment of inventive thin film apparatus 10 provided with a housing member 10a forming internally thereof a rotationally symmetrical treatment compartment or chamber 13. The treatment compartment 13 is enclosed by a suitable heating jacket 14. This treatment compartment 13 which is bounded by the treatment or processing wall means 12 is obturated at one end by a cover member 16 and is sealed at the opposite end by a cone portion 18. Arranged coaxially with respect to the treatment compartment 13 is a treatment or processing member 34 which is equipped with a shaft 38.

Secured to the shaft 38 are a number of spreader of distributor elements 36 which are arranged in spaced fashion from one another and perpendicular to the shaft 38. Each of these spreader elements 36 possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and serves to distribute and convey the material to be treated in the form of a thin film upon the treatment wall 12. The effective zone of operation of these substantially ringshaped spreader elements 36 is located at the neighborhood or region of the treatment wall 12. Furthermore, the shaft 38 is guided by bearing means 17 supported at the cover member 16 and is operably coupled with a suitable drive means 40 which, in turn, is retained by a drive support 42 supported at the cover member 16.

Continuing, it will be further noted that an inlet connecting piece or stud 20 communicates with a distributor compartment or chamber 22 defined by the wall portion 22a. This distributor compartment 22 is located beneath the cover member 16 and encloses the treatment wall 12, as, shown. Furthermore, distributor compartment 22 communicates with the interior of the treatment chamber or compartment 13 through the agency of a number of openings 24 provided at the wall of the housing 10a. It will also be seen that the cone portion or member 18 which forms the lower closure for the treatment compartment 13 opens by means of its tapered end into a discharge connecting piece or stud 26. Moreover, a vapor outlet or connecting piece 28 is arranged at the region of the cover member 16 in the treatment wall 12.

The drive means 40 which can be of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical nature, is constructed in such a way that it imparts to the shaft ,38 an axially directed reciprocating stroke which at least corresponds to the largest spacing between two neighboring spreader elements 36. FIGS. 2 and 3 show in enlarged view a portion of a spreader or distributor element 36 as well as its cooperation with the treatment wall means 12. It will be recognized that the substantially annular or ring-shaped spreader elements 36 possesses an essentially trapezoidal cross section and form together with the treatment wall means 12 an acute angle directed towards the cone portion 18. The edge of the spreader element 36 confronting or facing towards the cone portion 13 forms an impact or contact surface 44. This contact or impact surface 44 is connected via a transition portion 46 with a closure wall 48 tapering towards the cover member 16 and forming the central region of the ring-shaped spreader element 36. The end 50 of the spreader element 36 which faces away from the contact surface 44 possesses a substantially cylindrical construction. The treatment wall 12 forms together with the conical closure wall 48 a collecting compartment or space 52 for the material to be processed or treated.

Now, in FIGS. 4 and 4a, there are illustrated details of one type of treatment or processing member 34 in which the ringshaped spreader elements 36 are secured by means of the inside or inner surface of their respective cylindrical-shaped closure portions 50 in spaced relationship to one another at a number of axially extending connecting bands or rods 56. The ring-shaped spreader elements 36 consist of a closed ring, or are slotted, for instance at an inclination to the lengthwise axis of the treatment compartment, as such is indicated in phantom by reference character 36a in FIG. 4 for the two lowermost spreader elements 36. Due to this measure, it is possible to obtain an improved conveying-and-distributing or spreading action, in that the spreader element can wipe along the associated treatment wall during the feed movement and thus acts as a scraper, whereas during the spreader or distributor movement it can draw better together radially and thus can form a spreader nozzle. Furthermore, the spacing between the individual spreader elements 36 can either be the same or, however, depending upon the properties of the material to be treated, can be different. The connecting bands 56, in turn, are connected at their ends facing the cover member 16 (FIG. 1) thru the agency of star-shaped arranged webs 58 with the shaft member 38 which is centrally arranged with respect to the spreader elements 36. In the arrangement depicted, the drive shaft 38 extends through the bearing means 17 until reaching the immediate region of the uppermost spreader element.

The physical construction of treatment member 34 depicted in FIGS. 4 and 4a is advantageously used with thin film apparatus having a short treatment compartment or chamber, since the entire treatment member possesses a relatively large rigidity or stiffness. However, in order to be able to accommodate itself better to the irregularities of the treatment wall, especially in the case of long treatment compartments or chambers, the treatment member can be constructed in the manner depicted in FIGS. and 5a. In these figures, the treatment member in its entirety has been designated by reference numeral 35. Here, it will be seen that, for instance, in each case a group of three spreader elements 36, arranged at a spacing from one another, are coupled with one another by a plurality of connecting bands 60. These bands 60 are secured to the inside of the cylindrical closure portion 50 of the spreader elements 36. Furthermore, it will be seen that web means 64 are arranged at the bands 60 which interconnect the spreader elements 36, such web means dividing each band 60 into two halves. Web means 64 extend radially toward the shaft 38 and are secured to a hub member 62 arranged upon this shaft 38. In order to be able to secure the individual groups of spreader elements 37 of FIG. 5 to the shaft member 38, it is necessary that such shaft member extends through the bearing means I7 almost throughout the entire length of the treatment member 35. Due to this manner of attachment, there is imparted to the treatment member 35 a certain flexibility which allows for an easier accommodation to the irregularities or curvatures appearing at the treatment wall 12.

During operation of the thin film apparatus, the material which is to be thermally treated is introduced through the inlet connecting piece or stud 20 of FIG. 1 into the distributor compartment 22. In this distributor compartment 22, the material is distributed and arrives via the openings 24 uniformly at the inner wall 12 of the treatment chamber or compartment 13. During such time as the treatment member 34 is displaced axially to-and-fro in the treatment compartment 13 with a stroke which at least corresponds to the largest spacing between two neighboring spreader elements 36, the material which has entered the treatment compartment 13 via the openings 24 flow towards the discharge stud or connecting piece 26, but, however, while moving along this path encounters the spreader elements 36. If the spreader elements 36 move towards the cover member 16, as shown for the spreader element 36 of FIG. 3, then the material to be treated will collect in the collecting chamber or compartment 52. Due to the wedge action provided by the conical wall means 46, the material which has collected in the collecting chamber 52 will be pressed towards a substantially ring-shaped nozzlelike throughflow opening means 54 extending over the entire periphery of the spreader elements and formed by the cooperation of the treatment wall 12 and the transition portion 46. Consequently, the escaping material will be uniformly distributed upon the inner wall 112 of the treatment compartment 13 owing to the squeezing effect of the throughflow opening 54. Additionally, it is possible to superimpose upon the axial movement of the treatment member 34 a rotational movement, in order to distribute as good as possible the material about the entire periphery of the inner wall 12. This rotational movement does not bring about any additional feed of the material since the contact or impact surface 44 extends in the direction of the rotational movement. On the other hand, if the spreader element 36 of FIG. 2 moves towards the conical portion 18, then the thin film of the material to be treated will be engaged by the contact surface 44 extending into it, which then pushes the film ahead of it and thus considerably partakes in the further conveying of the material to be treated. Consequently, there is undertaken in alternating fashion a conveying-and-spreading operation during a complete stroke of the treatment member.

During the forward movement of a spreader element 36 towards the conical portion 18, there appears in front of the contact or impact surface 44 a bowed or domed wave which, upon carrying out the return movement of the treatment member in the direction of the cover member 116, will be displaced into the collecting compartment 52 of the next successive spreader element 36, caught by such, and smoothed out during the return movement. Due to the double action of the spreader elements, that is to say, by virtue of the feeding, on the one hand, and spreading, on the other hand, it is possible to effectively mix the thin film and to maintain it in motion, so that there is achieved an improved heat transfer, and additionally, there is prevented a depositing or sticking of the material to be treated. The continued feeding of the material to be treated is particularly then important if there should be processed in the thin film apparatus viscous materials which do not flow well.

The treatment wall means 12 can be heated or cooled via the jacket I14 depicted in FIG. 1, whereby the heating or cooling medium, as the case may be, is delivered and removed via the connections 30, 32.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of treatment member 36. As already explained with regard to the description of FIGS. 2 and 3, the basic form of the spreader or distributor element 36 is constituted by an impact or contact surface 44, a transition portion 46, a wedge-shaped wall portion 48 bounding the collecting space or compartment 52, as well as a substantially cylindrical closure portion 50. As best observed by referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that a double-wall portion 65, which tapers towards the lengthwise axis of the treatment compartment 13, merges with the cylindrical closure portion 50. The double walls 66 and 68 of the double-wall portion 65 form a return flow channel or trough 70. This return flow channel 70 communicates the space between the treatment wall means 12 and the closure portion 50 of one spreader element 36 with the space between the closure portion 50 of the next superimposed spreader element 36 and an additional cylindrical closure portion 72 of the first-mentioned spreader element 36. A closure edge 74 of the closure portion 72 is bent or flexed in such a way towards the treatment wall means 12 that it forms a collecting trough or ridge 76.

Continuing, it will be seen that in this embodiment a thickened portion 84 is arranged at the inside of the conical boundary wall 48. The individual spreader elements 36 are now retained in stacked or superimposed fashion above one another by the use of the previously mentioned bands or equivalent structure, so that between the thickened portion 84 of each spreader element 36 and the confronting outer wall 66 of a spreader element 36 situated therebelow as well as between the collecting trough 76 and the confronting inner wall 68 of the spreader element 36 situated thereabove, gaps or spaces 78 and 80 are formed. The vapors resulting during thermal treatment of the material, conveniently designated in FIG. 6 by the arrow 82, are conducted through the gap or space 78, whereby the velocity of the vapor is increased. Upon departing from the gap 78, it is contemplated in accordance with the inventive concepts, that the vapor stream impacts against the closure portion 72 and is deflected thereby, as indicated by the arrow 81. Due to the resulting centrifugal forces, the drops entrained by the vapor stream are separated at the closure portion 72.

During such time as the vapor stream flows'through the gap or space 80 towards the central region of the treatment compartment 13, the separated drops tend to collect in the collecting groove or ridge 76 and from this location flow along the closure portion 72 and through the return flow channel 70 formed by double walls 66, 68 back into the treatment zone of the material. It is necessary to cover the return flow channels 70 for the separated droplets, in order that the ascending vapors do not again entrain the separated drops.

It is important for the functionality of the described thin film apparatus that for the physical construction of the spreader unit, whether such be equipped with or without a droplet separator, the vapor can penetrate between the individual spreader elements 36 into the central region of the treatment member 34, from which location it can flow towards the cover member 16 in order to there be removed via the vapor pipe or conduit 28.

A further embodiment of thin film apparatus is depicted in FIG. 7. In the inventive construction shown therein, the material which is to be thermally treated is guided via a conduit 92 onto the external wall 89 of a cylinder member 88. This material is then spread into a thin film or layer by means of a treatment member 106 displaced in axial direction with respect to the cylinder member 88. A guide cone portion 87 is disposed at the lower end or region of the cylinder member 88.

By referring now to the detailed showing of FIG. 8, it will be seen that the treatment member 106 incorporates a number of approximately ring-shaped spreader elements 110 which encompass or surround the cylinder member 88. The inner edge of each spreader elements 110 is flexed back towards the outside through a predetermined radius, it being important that a certain play appear between the cylinder member 88 and the inner diameter of the associated spreader elements 110. The central region or middle portion 111 of each spreader element 110 and which merges with the contact or impact surface 108 widens in conical shape in the direction of the delivery conduit 92. The outer closure region of the conical portion 111 terminates in a substantially cylindrical closure portion 113. The closure edge 112 of this closure portion 113 of each spreader element 110 is flexed, as shown, towards the axis of the treatment compartment 90 such that it forms a collecting trough or ridge 130. This collecting trough 130 serves to collect the droplets separated from the vapor stream withdrawn towards the outside from the treatment wall 89 and to guide such back along the inner wall of the associated spreader elements into the treatment zone of the material. Both the treatment cylinder member 88 and the treatment member 106 are enclosed by a rotational symmetric wall means 91 of a housing 91a bounding the treatment compartment or chamber 90. The treatment compartment 90 is closed by a suitable cover member 114 at the end facing the delivery conduit 92. The side of the treatment compartment 90 facing the discharge or outflow end for the treated material is terminated by a conical portion 116, the latter opening at its narrowed or tapered end into a discharge stud or connecting piece 96.

The bands 115 secured to the cylindrical closure portion 113 ofeach of the spreader elements 110 and serving to retain such together are coupled by means of their ends facing the cover member 114 with the drive shaft 121 through the agency of a'number of webs 117 or equivalent structure. The shaft member 121 is guided by a bearing means 119 secured upon the cover member 114 and is operably associated with the drive means 118. This drive means 118 serves to reciprocate back and forth in alternation the treatment or processing member 106 with strokes at least corresponding to the greatest division between two neighboring spreader elements. A rotational movement can also be superimposed upon the axially directed movement, but, however, the delivery conduit 92 must be differently arranged. For instance, it can be arranged in such a way that the drive shaft 121 is constructed as a hollow shaft member and the material to be treated is delivered to this hollow shaft member via a stationary annular chamber. Further, as far as thetreatment cylinder member 88 is concerned, such can be heated or cooled by delivering a suitable medium through the inlet and outlet conduits 99 and 100, respectively.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of thin film apparatus. It will be understood that the cylinder member88, the delivery conduit 92, the drive means 118, as well as the spreader elements 109, with the exception of a few minor differences which will be explained more fully with regard to FIG. 10, are all constructed the same as the corresponding components depicted in the embodiments of FIG. 7 and function in the same manner as heretofore described.

In this arrangement, a cooling coil or equivalent structure is arranged at the inside of the boundary wall 91. Cooling medium is delivered to the cooling coil 120 through the agency of the pipe or stud 122 and is withdrawn by means of the pipe or stud 124. Now, if as shown in FIG. 10, the vapor stream 128 escapes towards the outside between the spreader elements 109, then such will contact the cooling coil 120 and condense. The condensate will be collected dropwise by the collecting edge means 126 of the spreader elements 109 and will be guided back into the treatment zone through openings 127 provided at the cylindrical closure portions 129 of the spreader elements 109. Accordingly, the thin film apparatus can be utilized as a rectifier. Just as there were provided thickened portions 84 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 for achieving the heretofore described effect, also in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 9 and for the purpose of achieving a similar effect during the removal of the vapors, substantially ring-shaped thickened members or flaps 93 can be arranged at the underside of the conical portions of the spreader elements 110 (FIG. 7) and 109 (FIG. 9).

It is also possible to impart to the treatment wall means a different form from the rotation symmetrical fonn described in conjunction with the preceding embodiments. In so doing, the treatment wall means can be constructed of square or rectangular configuration; in fact, it is even possible to use for certain applications a single planar treatment wall upon which a spreader mechanism alternately spreads and conveys the material to be handled in a thin film, in the manner described in the preceding embodiments.

Furthermore, a reversal of the stationary and moveable components of the thin film apparatus is possible. For in stance, the heretofore described axial and, if desired, rotational movement can be associated with the treatment wall means and the treatment member is then stationary. This kinematic reversal does not change the function of the thin film apparatus, especially its conveying-and-spreading operations. Depending upon the use of the inventive thin film apparatus, the heating jacket heretofore disclosed can be replaced in any of the embodiments by a cooling jacket, or can be constructed as a combination heating-cooling jacket means. This type combination is then required if the thin film apparatus is used as a reactor in which thermal energy or heat is delivered until initiation of the reaction process, but after the start of the reaction process such heat must again be transported away. Finally, it is here mentioned that the drive mechanism, whether such be for the treatment member of each thin film apparatus herein disclosed, or, alternatively, for the treatment wall means thereof, can be constructed to impart, if desired, both the reciprocatory movement to the associated component as well as the rotational movement.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that the objects set forth at the outset to the specification have been successfully achieved.

What we claim is:

l. A thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of flowable material, comprising means providing a treatment compartment, a material inlet means and a material outlet means below said inlet means provided for said treatment compartment, wall means provided for said treatment compartment, said wall means being at least partially constructed as treatment wall means for the delivery or removal of heat, or both, said means providing said treatment compartment incorporates a rotation symmetrical body member which at least partially bounds said treatment compartment, said rotation symmetric body member possessing an inner wall providing said treatment wall means, a treatment member within said treatment compartment extending to the region of said treatment wall means for spreading the material to be treated in the form of a substantially uniform thin film on said treatment wall means, said treatment member incorporating a number of spreader elements for the material arranged at a substantially uniform spacing from one another, each said spreader element possessing a substantially ring-shaped configuration and constructed as a closed ring member possessing a contact surface, each said spreader element possessing a substantially conical wall portion directed towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, said conical wall portion narrowing in a direction towards said material inlet means, and means for imparting relative movement between said treatment member and said treatment wall means, said relative movement-imparting means displacing said treatment member up and down axially with respect to said inner wall of said rota tion symmetric body member, said relative movement-imparting means displacing said spreader elements through a stroke which at least corresponds to the largest spacing between each two neighboring spreader elements.

2. A thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of flowable material, comprising means providing a treatment compartment, a material inlet means and a material outlet means below said inlet means provided for said treatment compartment, wall means provided for said treatment compartment, said wall means being at least partially constructed as treatment wall means for the delivery or removal of heat, or both, a treatment member extending in close proximity to the region of said treatment wall means for spreading the material to be treated in the form of a substantially uniform thin film over said treatment wall means, said treatment member incorporating at least one spreader element for the material, said spreader element possessing a substantially ring-shaped configuration and being constructed as a closed ring member possessing a contact surface, said spreader element further including a conical wall portion directed towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means, and means for imparting relative movement between said treatment member and said treatment wall means.

3. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means providing said treatment compartment is formed and at least partially bounded by two substantially coaxially arranged cylinders, said wall means being defined by the outer wall of the inner situated cylinder, such outer wall forming said treatment wall means, means providing vapor withdrawal compartment means between said treatment member and the inner wall of the outer cylinder, said relative movement-imparting means displacing said treatment member axially with respect to said coaxially arranged cylinders.

4. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.

5. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.

6. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conical wall portion widens in a direction towards said material inlet means.

7. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said spreader element is arranged substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of said treatment compartment.

8. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means.

9. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said conical wall portion of said spreader element cooperates with said treatment wall means to provide a partially bounded compartment serving as a collecting chamber for the material to be treated. v v

10. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the edge of said spreader element neighboring the apex of said acute angle is constructed as a curved contact surface means.

11. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said treatment wall means and a portion of said spreader element adjacent said contact surface means bounds a substantially ring-shaped throughflow opening, said through-flow opening in cross section being substantially nozzle shaped.

12. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said relative movement-imparting means incorporating a drive shaft operably associated with said spreader elements.

- 13. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another, radial web means for securing said lengthwise extending band means with said drive shaft.

14. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another in groups, attachment hub means for securing said groups of spreader elements to said drive shaft, radially extending web means for connecting said attachment hub means with said groups of spreader elements.

15. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said spreader elements includes a substantially conical wall portion, a substantially ring-shaped thickened portion means secured to the underside of each conical wall portion of said spreader elements.

16. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each spreader element incorporates a substantially cylindrical closure portion, an upwardly substantially conically tapering wall portion, and a successive substantially cylindrical wall portion connecting with said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element.

17. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including a further likewise conically tapering wall portion which cooperates with said upward conically tapering wall portion to form an annular compartment.

18. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said cylindrical wall portions is provided at its free edge with collecting groove means.

19. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein two neighboring spreader elements form a droplet separator means.

20. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said annular compartment provides return flow channel means for separated droplets.

21. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each spreader element possesses a conical wall portion widening in a direction towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, the upper free edge of said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element being inwardly offset and said cylindrical closure portion being further provided with opening means, said conically widening wall portion of each spreader element possessing a collecting edge means.

22. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each spreader element includes a contact surface, said means for imparting relative movement displacing said treatment member up and down relative to said treatment compartment, said relative movement-imparting means additionally superimposing a rotational movement upon said up-and-down movement of said treatment member, with said contact surface of said spreader element extending in the direction of said rotational movement. 

2. A thin film apparatus for the thermal treatment of flowable material, comprising means providing a treatment compartment, a material inlet means and a material outlet means below said inlet means provided for said treatment compartment, wall means provided for said treatment compartment, said wall means being at least partially constructed as treatment wall means for the delivery or removal of heat, or both, a treatment member extending in close proximity to the region of said treatment wall means for spreading the material to be treated in the form of a substantially uniform thin film over said treatment wall means, said treatment member incorporating at least one spreader element for the material, said spreader element possessing a substantially ring-shaped configuration and being constructed as a closed ring member possessing a contact surface, said spreader element further including a conical wall portion directed towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means, and means for imparting relative movement between said treatment member and said treatment wall means.
 3. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means providing said treatment compartment is formed and at least partially bounded by two substantially coaxially arranged cylinders, said wall means being defined by the outer wall of the inner situated cylinder, such outer wall forming said treatment wall means, means providing vapor withdrawal compartment means between said treatment member and the inner wall of the outer cylinder, said relative movement-imparting means displacing said treatment member axially with respect to said coaxially arranged cylinders.
 4. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.
 5. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said spreader element possesses a substantially ring-shaped configuration and is constructed as a slotted ring member.
 6. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conical wall portion widens in a direction towards said material inlet means.
 7. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said spreader element is arranged substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of said treatment compartment.
 8. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conical wall portion thereof together with said treatment wall means forming an acute angle directed towards said material outlet means.
 9. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, whErein said conical wall portion of said spreader element cooperates with said treatment wall means to provide a partially bounded compartment serving as a collecting chamber for the material to be treated.
 10. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the edge of said spreader element neighboring the apex of said acute angle is constructed as a curved contact surface means.
 11. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said treatment wall means and a portion of said spreader element adjacent said contact surface means bounds a substantially ring-shaped throughflow opening, said through-flow opening in cross section being substantially nozzle shaped.
 12. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said relative movement-imparting means incorporating a drive shaft operably associated with said spreader elements.
 13. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another, radial web means for securing said lengthwise extending band means with said drive shaft.
 14. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, further including lengthwise extending band means for operably interconnecting said spreader elements with one another in groups, attachment hub means for securing said groups of spreader elements to said drive shaft, radially extending web means for connecting said attachment hub means with said groups of spreader elements.
 15. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said spreader elements includes a substantially conical wall portion, a substantially ring-shaped thickened portion means secured to the underside of each conical wall portion of said spreader elements.
 16. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein each spreader element incorporates a substantially cylindrical closure portion, an upwardly substantially conically tapering wall portion, and a successive substantially cylindrical wall portion connecting with said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element.
 17. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including a further likewise conically tapering wall portion which cooperates with said upward conically tapering wall portion to form an annular compartment.
 18. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said cylindrical wall portions is provided at its free edge with collecting groove means.
 19. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein two neighboring spreader elements form a droplet separator means.
 20. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said annular compartment provides return flow channel means for separated droplets.
 21. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each spreader element possesses a conical wall portion widening in a direction towards said material inlet means and a cylindrical closure portion, the upper free edge of said cylindrical closure portion of each spreader element being inwardly offset and said cylindrical closure portion being further provided with opening means, said conically widening wall portion of each spreader element possessing a collecting edge means.
 22. A thin film apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each spreader element includes a contact surface, said means for imparting relative movement displacing said treatment member up and down relative to said treatment compartment, said relative movement-imparting means additionally superimposing a rotational movement upon said up-and-down movement of said treatment member, with said contact surface of said spreader element extending in the direction of said rotational movement. 